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Coalition to target unions in crackdown

Adam Bennett

A coalition government would reinstate the building commission, set up a new body to deal with union corruption and extend individual work agreements, but leave unfair dismissal laws relatively unchanged.

Opposition workplace spokesman Eric Abetz outlined the themes of the opposition's soon-to-be-released industrial relations policy during in a 30-minute address to business executives in Canberra on Monday.

Ahead of an official announcement, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been careful to distance himself from the controversial Howard-era Work Choices policy.

He flagged instead "careful, cautious, responsible changes" to the Fair Work Act and appeared to rule out tinkering with unfair dismissal laws because business weren't agitating for an overhaul, although the issue remained under review.

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Senator Abetz told the Australian Industry Group forum a reinstated Australian Building and Construction Commission would stamp out union thuggery, while a new Registered Organisations Commission would prosecute corrupt union officials.

"When trade union bosses can rip off their members to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars and the maximum penalty is a $10,000 fine, whereas a company director can go to jail for five years and face a fine of $220,000, you know something is seriously out of balance," he said.

But he said employers needed to stand up to union officials seeking money for "slush funds", often sold as safety initiatives or drug and alcohol rehabilitation schemes, and stop offering higher wages to buy industrial peace.

"I always find it interesting when employers knock on my door to complain of the industrial tactics of a trade union, to find that the same employer has made very generous donations to union slush funds," he said.

Senator Abetz said coalition policy would also improve flexibility, while the current "one-size fits all" approach stifled innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.

He said Labor's individual flexibility agreements (IFAs), which have a 28-day termination date, needed to be extended to at least 90 days and made more accessible, particularly for parents seeking to balance work and family.

Senator Abetz also signalled a change to unions workplace access, saying while Labor had promised not to change right of entry provisions, it had actually "dramatically expanded" them.

The Liberal frontbencher cited the case of the Australian Workers Union making more than 330 site visits to BHP's Worsley aluminium site in 2011 and 2012.

"The vast majority of these visits are either a blatant membership fishing expedition or designed to intimidate," he said.